wildfowler.250 Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Whats the acceptable method for the above? being a tight so and so with cartridges and cash I want to use as few shells as possible I was thinking of shooting 1/4 and 1/2 choke at 30 yards to check what the pattern is like? Or is 20 and 40 more meaningful ? I guess I'll have to use a couple of shots through each choke to make it reliable? I've got a big roll of paper that I can use to mark a 30' circle. In truth I have never bothered with this in 13 years of shooting and never had any issues but it can't hurt... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Done properly it can be quite helpful; improperly is a complete waste of time. You'll need six shots from a previously fired barrel per barrel to get a reasonable field assessment. If you were to do it, you'd immediately see why 6 was necessary - for research, 10 is the norm. You could, just to get a rough, very rough, idea of the spread, fire three shot from a previously fired barrel at 30 yards. Ignoring any obvious wide flyers measure the overall diameter of the pattern - on the grounds that the pattern is not always quite circular, you may have to measure each one twice (vertical and horizontal) and take the average spread as your answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Who's the poor *** that's holding the paper up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitty tree Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 what are you using lead /steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted August 27, 2013 Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 with lead I am told by those more knowing than I that you fire top barrel with half choke from 16 yards,i did this using the same gun but several different makes of cartridge I was surprised at the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2013 Cheers for the replies already guys I was thinking of mainly using steel. Might try the lead if I'm feeling flush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 29, 2013 Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 I do it range depends on the shell, choke and purpose, no point shooting 50 yds patterns with open chokes and a shell you intend to use over deeks on a flash after sunset. to be fair I now view not doing it a bit like going out with an un-zeroed rifle to shoot at live quarry. The downside is you do need the land to do it on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2013 Cheers Kent. I thought 30 yards would have been a good look for my geese shells. Just to check the pattern was alright. Tbh no one i know actually pattern tests their shotguns and have shot more geese than I'd care to know but it can't hurt Appreciate the reply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve0146 Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 (edited) After a disasterous trip to the other side of the country shooting with a mate, we came home and patterned the shells we had bought. We were missing duck at 20 yards and clipping others that were any easy shot, its was frustrating to say the least. The cartridges in my gun, through half choke at 30 yds put 40 ish pellets in the 30 inch circle. We drew a mallard in the middle and some cartridges never even put a pellet in the bird. ( factory loaded shells, not homeloads). It opened my eyes to pattern testing. Best to test a cartridge and if you happy, stick with it. I know people who swap and changed cartridges and chokes each season - dont see why if you have a combo that works. Edited August 30, 2013 by steve0146 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 After a disasterous trip to the other side of the country shooting with a mate, we came home and patterned the shells we had bought. We were missing duck at 20 yards and clipping others that were any easy shot, its was frustrating to say the least. The cartridges in my gun, through half choke at 30 yds put 40 ish pellets in the 30 inch circle. We drew a mallard in the middle and some cartridges never even put a pellet in the bird. ( factory loaded shells, not homeloads). It opened my eyes to pattern testing. Best to test a cartridge and if you happy, stick with it. I know people who swap and changed cartridges and chokes each season - dont see why if you have a combo that works. Exactly if you know it works try to not change, retained shotcups (which might happen enough to give you issues) are common on factory steel shells. my main use 12ga auto performs great with a certain shell on the factory improved cylinder choke yet put it on the factory modified or an after market Kicks modified and shotcups are often retained (maybe as often as 1-4). If you get this occurring its quite obvious as you either get a strike like a slug or if only part of the load is stuck in the cup a very definite print of an opened cup. Confidence is key to using steel, some say it due to the short shot string but I am not so sure but buying a box of shells and testing through your gun before purchasing a slab has to be a wise move Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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